Changes to wetlands park offer educational experience

Learning from nature

BETH KUHLES, Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

Published
6:30 am CST, Thursday, January 8, 2004

The Woodlands recently revamped its only restored wetlands.

Located on Lake Woodlands Drive across from Shadowlake Park, the Shadowlake Marsh Experience is a short nature trail that provides a glimpse of the flora and fauna that can be found in the area. The experience was recently enhanced with new plantings, a more durable boardwalk, large colored signs, features for the visually impaired and an audio overview.

"These new signs enhance the park's function as an outdoor classroom, and coincide with the restoration of the park's wetlands through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation," said John Powers, director of parks and recreation for the Community Associations of The Woodlands.

Visitors to the arched entrance of the 500-foot boardwalk trail now are greeted with a large sign providing an overview on the benefits of the marsh and the plants and animals that can be found there.

"Marshes play a vital role in maintaining a healthy environment," says Powers in an audio message that greets visitors to the park. "The marsh helps regulate water levels by serving as a reservoir for excess water and by filtering sediments and other impurities."

The site is surrounded by lush woods and a unique mixture of swampy plants. Many of them bear unusual flowers, such as the spike-like sweetspire, the tentacled spread of the spider lily, the showy white halberdleaf hibiscus with its maroon center and the prickly balls of the buttonbush. The buttonbush is a particular favorite of area wildlife, offering flowers that attract bees and butterflies in the summer, waterfowl with its brown fruit in the fall and deer with a special treat year round.

Marshes also are popular areas for ferns. The royal fern is a dense plant featuring long fronds and short leaves. The chain fern grows low to the ground and has soft, broad leaves. The tropical looking dwarf palmetto has broad, spiky fan-like leaves.

Trees, too, find a haven in the marshes. Among the species found along the boardwalk are the chinquapin oak, whose sweet acorns were used by Native Americans to make flour and meal, and the Drummond red maple, a colorful addition to the fall landscape.

Wildlife is abundant on the site, although many species are active only at night when the facility is closed. The marsh, like many ponds in The Woodlands, is stocked with fish, including bullhead, bluegill, channel catfish and largemouth bass. The trail includes a fishing pier, where the practice of catch and release is encouraged.

Sharing the shores are mammals, birds and reptiles. Frogs are often heard calling in the summer months and they, along with turtles, frogs and lizards, help keep down the insect population. The marsh also is home to several venomous snake species, including cottonmouth and copperheads, and visitors are encouraged to stay on the elevated pathways to avoid them.

The area is a haven for waterfowl, including mallards, pied-billed grebes, herons and egrets.

Most mammals wait until the evening to make an appearance. Most of the species here are swimmers, even the swamp rabbit which escapes its prey in the water, leaving only its nostrils above the surface to get air. Armadillos burrow in the soft soil, and beavers build dams that regulate water flow. Other species, such as opossum and raccoon, can be found here.

The park was initially constructed with the help of 11 organizations in The Woodlands. It has been designed as an outdoor classroom to teach school children and other groups about the natural world around them.

"The park was built in 1984 to preserve the marshy environment," said Kelly Dietrich, a project manager in parks and recreation. "The boardwalk gives you a firsthand experience. It is the only restored wetlands in The Woodlands. It is a place to learn about plants and wildlife."